It was to be a refrain Gus heard repeated over the next days. The other two had also found work and, when they suggested going to the pub that evening to celebrate, Gus went with them. He found that after a shot or two of rum he could enjoy beer after all. He looked round. This was where he belonged. Not in the softness of cushioned seats and the company of women. This was a man’s place, in the company of his mates. He finished the evening in a pleasant, alcohol-induced daze.

In twos and threes his old shipmates were disappearing. Lofty and some of the other Americans had shipped with a vessel heading for Valparaíso, and one morning Boney sought him out.

‘I’ve got a berth on a clipper heading for India, leaving tomorrow. Why don’t you come with me? I’m sure I could get you a place as my assistant.’

Gus shook his head. ‘I don’t want to go to sea again. Thanks all the same.’

Boney looked at him with his lips pursed. ‘What are you going to do with yourself then, lad? You’re not having much luck on the docks, are you?’

‘No, not so far,’ Gus admitted.

‘Do they know you can read and write and figure?’

‘They? Who?’

‘The gangmasters. There’s a chance you might get work as a tally clerk, checking the cargo. Worth a try, don’t you think?’

Next day Gus persuaded Snowy, who had struck up a good relationship with one of the gangmasters, to put the idea forward and from then on he was given occasional work helping the regular tally clerks. It was dirty and sometimes dangerous, as he clambered around in the holds of ships or stood on the dockside watching crates being lowered, but it put money in his pocket. There was no reason for any of the four of them to stay in the Sailor’s Home, since they were no longer seamen, so they found cheap lodgings in Mersey Street, just off the dock road.

* * *

It worried May that she had not seen Gus again. She had told him that he could meet her any day after work and come back to Nan’s with her, but the days passed with no sign of him. Eventually, she plucked up her courage on her afternoon off and found her way to the Sailor’s Home, but there they disclaimed all knowledge of his whereabouts. ‘Moved out days ago. No idea where he went. May have gone back to sea.’

She wandered away, disconsolate. She could not understand why Gus had wished to cut off all communication. They had enjoyed each other’s company on that one evening. What had she done wrong? Was it because she had changed, become more ‘ladylike’? Had he felt she was putting on airs?